Elevator box



Jan. 28, 1930 I THQEN 1,744,933

ELEVATOR BOX ori inal Filed May 16, 1927 INVENTOR Lowe h. Thoen Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT. OFFICE LOWELL H. THOEN, or STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY-MESNE AssIGnMnNI's,

, T CATERPILLAR T ACTOR on C LIFORNIA ELEVATOR 130x Application fiIed May 16,;1927, Serial.

My invention'relates' to housings for conveyors or elevators for handling grain on harvesting machinery and relates especially to a housing for a chain elevator.

An object of my invention is to provide an easily assembled elevator box.

Another object of myinvention is to pro- 'vide a simple and strong construction for a metal elevator-housing. p

A further object ofmy invention is to provide means for taking advantage of'the resiliency of a metal elevator housing in securin the housing in assembled position.

i y invention possesses other advantageous features, some of Which with the foregoing,

will be set forth at length in the following descriptionwhere I shall outline in full that form of the elevator box of my invention, which I have selected for illustrationin the 1'20 drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of elevator box embodying my invention, but it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as set forth in the claims may be embodied in a plurality'of forms.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of an elevator box on a harvester, showing a chain elevator or conveyor therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross seot1on=of the elevator box conveyors 6 disposed at an angle and su ported by suitable sprockets in'the ordlnary manner. Each conveyor comprises plurality of chain links including irregular links 7 situated at intervalstherein. On the-irregw 4 kn links, impellers 8 erg-provided wli'ch 'fl t l t met secure ;to -z v ordmarlly are a p a es 0 a i rather than against the upper s de of the the irregular links 7 and extending there from at right angles. The lower run 9 of the conveyor is the ascending run and as it passes thru a container of grain at itslower end,

no. 191,694. enewed m .17, 11929.

the impellers 8 encompass a portionof grain and drive itup the lower face llof the elevator box. The-grain is discharged atthe upper 'en'daofthebox and the empty impellers return to the, starting. point, com

pleting the circuitof the chain. 1

vIn one form of-my invention, I preferably provide a center board 12, which can conveniently be made of wood .of good quality and which'is'disposed onthe requisite angle I for theconveyor. The opposite sides of the -center'board 12 areprovided with indentations which usually are rectangular grooves 13 extending longitudinally of the center board and facing in'opposite directions. 1

To enclose the upperrun 14 of the conveyor, I provide a housing 16 preferably ofv sheet metal. The housing isgenerally rectangular in cross sectional contour and encloses the upper runof the conveyor with considerable clearance. The lower sideof the upper housing'16 is Interrupted to provide oppositely turned edges orflanges17. These flanges are adapted to engage the grooves 13 and to be seated therein; Due to the resiliency of the metal, the housing16 can be assembled with the center board 12 byspreading the flanges oo., 01 SAN LEANnRo, CALIFORNIA, A ooRPoRA'rIoN- 17 apa'rtfand'th ensnapping them intoplace int-hegrooves 13. The housing- 16 can also be positioned on the center board 12-by =engaging the endsrof the flanges 17 with the ends of the grooves13 and relatively moving the longitudinally with respect to the centerfb'oard untilthe proper {position is attained Ineither event, it is preferred that the resiliency pf the metal comprising the housing l obeiutilized to provide; a gripping action of thefflanges 17' in the grooves 13.

.A similar. housing 18 is provided for the lower run 9, of theconveyor and alsocoimprises a, generally rectangular case having one:side interrupted .to'lprov ide oppositely turned edges or flanges 19; These flanges likewise are seated. .ingrooves. 13 but preferably bear' againstthe lower side of the groove groove asdo the flanges 17. The links of the the, upper: run ofthe conveyor, while the impellers 8 slide on the bottom of housing 18 on the lower run of the conveyor.

While the resiliency of the housin s 16 and 18 may be adequate to retain the fl anges 17 and 19 in the grooves, it is preferred to provide additional means for maintaining the cooperative relationship of the housings and the center board. Any suitable devices may be used and I have. indicated as. a. preferableeonetmction the employment at lag screws 21 extending between the flanges 17 and 19 and preferably spreading them apart somewhat and entering the wood of the center board 12. Washerafil beneath thezheadsof the lag screws aid in distributing pressure and assist. in providing a firm engagement. The hag screws are easily inserted after the houshigs have. been mounted on the grooved centor board and are as easily removed when it is desimed to. dismantle the elevator box. With this construction it isof course possiblntorelaove theupper'housing without disturbing the lower housing and vice versa.

As a modified form of my invention,I have illustrated; in 3, a similar elevator box but one. which is provided with a. center board: 23preerablyoi metal; Instances arise in which it is; desirable to make the entire stmctu-reof the of; metal and in those instances, I provide a center board, as, indicarted, which I is fabricated of sheet metal shapes. The center board; 23, is provided with grooves 24 which extend oppositely on long;- tudiaal edges thereofj. In the groovesthe 111- 3 turned flanges; 26 of housings 21 and 28 are .tionis.

seated and occupy the same relative position as. do the flanges with the wooden. center board. Instead ofemployinglag screws, thru bolts 29 are. inserted between the flanges. and preifie extend thru the hollow center boards 111:8;31 secure: the center bolts 111 position while washers 32, aid distfiiebutmg the pressure. The 11- per'run o t conveyor slides on the me illic center board 23 while hhelower run9 slidesover't-hebottom of housb13228, I

'It willbe appreciated that w th either of the modificationsv 02E my invention, a simple and. easily assembled elevator; box construcand one in; which the arts are so igned as to take advantage. o the resiliency oi the metallic housings to aid in securing the housings to the center board.

1. An elevator box comprising a center board having a longitudinal groove therein, a. housing having an edge seated in sa d groove, and means for retaining said edge in scid'gr o c.

2. An elevator box comprising a center board having a groove therein, a housing having an edge seated insaid' groove and means engaging said center board for securely positioning said edge in said groove.

3. An elevator box comprising a center board having a pair of oppositely facing grooves therein, a housing, a pair of oppositely turned flanges on said housin adapted to seat in said grooves, and means or retaining said flanges in said grooves.

4 An elevator box comprising a center board having a pair of oppositely facing grooves therein, a housing, a pair of oppositely turned flanges on said housing adapte to seat in said grooves, a second housing, a pair of opposite y turned flanges on. said secondheusing adapted to seat in said grooves, and means extending between said flanges into said center b ard tor-securing said housings to said center board.

5. An elevator box comprising a center board oppositely disposed indentatiionsl therein. a. metal housing, nd projections on said housing adapted to cooperate with said indentations to secure Said housing to said center board.

6. An elevator box compris a. rectang lar housinghaving-a portiolr gfone side interrupted, a center boardhaving portions engaging the uninterrupted portions of said side, and means. for maintaining the engagemerit of said center board and. said h using.

7 An elevator be; comprising; a. center board having a pair ofoppositely disposed grooves. therein, a housing enclosing an upper chamber, oppositely turned flanges; on said housingadapted to be seated, in said grooves, a second housing enclosing a lower chamber, oppositely turned flanges on said second housing adapted to. be seated in said. rooves, and means engaging. said center board at intervals for maintaining said flanges in said grooves.

8; An elevator. box comprising a center board having oppositely dis osed longitwi nal gaoovesthercima pair 0 metal housings, flanges on each of said housings; adapted to seatin said grooves, andmeans extending between flanges and engaging said center board at intervals fiorsccuring; said housings to said center bQNds.

9. An elevator box comprising a center board, independently detachable metalupper and lower housings thereon, shoulders on said center board defining groovesin; opposite edgesv thereof, inwardly projecting flanges on the edges of said housings adapted to engage said grooves, and means for said es in said grooves.v

10;v An elevator box comprising upper and lower housings, a center board interiorl-y of said housings having grooves; in the edges thereof, flanges on the edgesof said housings adapted to engagesaid grooves, means. tor removably' retaining said flanges. in said moves, and elevator mechanism within said ousings and encompassing said center board.

11;. In an elevator, a. structure including a longitudinaldividing wall and means enclosing one side of said wall, a, housing serving to enclose the other side of said wall, and tongue and groove means forming a detachable interlocking engagement between said housin and said structure.

12. 11 an elevator, a structure including a longitudinal dividing wall and means enclosing one side of said wall, a housing serving to enclose the other side of said wall, said housing having a resilient wall, and means utilizing the resilience of said housing wall for detachably retaining said housing to said structure.

13. In an elevator, a structure including a longitudinal dividing wall and means enclosing one side of said wall, a housing serving to enclose the other side of said wall, said housing having resilient side walls, and means utilizing the resilience of said side walls for detachably retaining said housing upon said structure.

14. An elevator box comprising a center board member, a housing member adapted normally to extend longitudinally of the center board member, one of said members having indentations formed in the same, and projecting portions formed on the other of said members, said indentations and projecting portions serving to cooperate to detachably connect the housing to the center board.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LOWELL H. THOEN. 

